"Mr. Mu!"
"Mr. Mu, you don't have to listen to these villains!"
"Mr. Mu, don't go out..."
The noisy students made way for a middle-aged man in a grayish-white military uniform, who slowly stepped forward. Several students tried to stop him, but he moved like a steadily advancing steamroller, unaffected by any pulling or blocking, pushing aside all the intercepting students.
Inside the Star Engraving Military Academy, education is militarized, with both students and teachers wearing uniforms daily. Students wear dark gray uniforms, while teachers wear grayish-white ones; the former being durable, the latter showcasing skill—whether a military academy teacher can wear a white uniform neatly and appropriately reflects their basic abilities.
This middle-aged man was evidently the exemplary teacher at the academy, his white cuffs spotless, his garment smooth and unwrinkled. With hands clasped behind his back, he walked with the demeanor of a dragon and tiger, exuding a majestic air, his temples grayed and beard well-groomed, commanding respect without anger.
He stopped five steps away from Le Yuxin and said calmly, "Qian Yuliu."
"Student pays respect to Mr. Mu," Le Yuxin said with a cupped fist salute.
"No need. I wonder what grave crime I, Mu Feihong, have committed, that requires Captain Qian of the Statistical Department to raise such a commotion to arrest me," Mu Feihong glanced at the hand cannon of Le Yuxin, "Are you planning to have me follow in Lin Jinyao's footsteps?"
Chen Fu produced an arrest warrant, "Lin Jinyao is suspected of colluding with the rebels and conspiring against the Imperial Court. We found intimate correspondence with you at his house, and now suspect you of similar collusion. We need to take you back to the Statistical Department for questioning."
Le Yuxin nodded, "If Mr. Mu is innocent, the Statistical Department will not wrong a good person."
"Hahaha, the Statistical Department will not wrong a good person..." Mu Feihong couldn't help but laugh, his face showing ridicule, "It seems the Statistical Department's definition of a good person differs from ours."
"Debate over definitions sows chaos," Le Yuxin shook his head, "It appears we cannot reach a consensus. However, the Statistical Department was established precisely to eliminate such debates. Mr. Mu, please."
After a day's contemplation, Le Yuxin can now perfectly play Qian Yuliu's role, particularly in portraying his villainous character with unmatched precision: calm, indifferent, inhuman, ruthless.
Although initially hesitant and reluctant, Le Yuxin found it quite exhilarating once he assumed the role.
Perhaps everyone has fantasized about playing a charming villain at some point.
"Mr. Mu, don't!"
"Mr. Mu, the Statistical Department is a den of wolves and tigers; if you go, you're doomed!"
"Mr. Mu..."
"Everyone," Mu Feihong said loudly, "Skip the nonsense, spare the idle talk, disperse now. Go back and study hard; only then can you serve the country and build an ideal world."
"But..." Some students were still indignant.
Mu Feihong shouted, "Attention, all!"
Thump!
The sound of feet snapping together echoed like a resonant melody against the ground. The once boisterous students fell silent, standing at attention, quietly observing the Statistical Department and Mu Feihong.
Le Yuxin exhaled lightly. Compared to the earlier raucous, troublemaking students, this cohort of rule-abiding cadets sent a chilling shiver down one's spine.
Mu Feihong, you made the accurate judgment.
"Watch closely, don't be impulsive, you are the future," Mu Feihong grinned with satisfaction, "This is the last lesson I can teach you: Don't fear the torch's extinguishment; you will all become the light."
He looked at Le Yuxin, revealing a rope in his clasped hands behind, "Come on, Captain Qian, I've prepared the tools for you."
Chen Fu gasped, "Captain Qian, should I lend a hand?"
"Help?" Zhou Guangshi didn't quite understand—this man had already surrendered, what assistance could he offer?
"Haven't you seen the documents? Mu Feihong teaches the Eight Edges Biting Battle Technique at the military academy, excelling in close-combat capture!" Ai Lili raised her lowered hand cannon again, "He still intends to violently resist the law!"
Mu Feihong shook the rope, a trace of disdain in his faint smile, "Captain Qian, come over here."
Chen Fu took out handcuffs, "Captain Qian, shall I handle Mr. Mu..."
"No need," Le Yuxin held down Chen Fu's shoulder, "Mr. Mu wishes to assess my skills, how could I refuse such kindness? It is mainly thanks to Mr. Mu's teaching, guidance, and enlightenment that I have this battle technique mastery."
"Back during the graduation assessment, Captain Qian, you were first in your cohort, unmatched in the Biting Battle Technique." Mu Feihong said blandly, "No need to credit me; I treated you just as any other student, without bias. Your current achievements are solely your own, but please, do not mention my name. I, old Mu, cannot afford such honor, nor can Star Engraving Military Academy."
Le Yuxin maintained a calm expression, not angered by Mu Feihong's veiled sarcasm. His mind was preoccupied with recalling Qian Yuliu's combat technique experience.
Accepting Mu Feihong's challenge wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision for Le Yuxin but a resolution to swiftly assimilate Qian Yuliu's combat prowess. Last night's battle among Kui Zhao, Lan Yan, Li Shijie, and others shattered Le Yuxin's worldview, thoroughly making him realize the world-class power could transcend even hot weapons.
Whether to continue Qian Yuliu's path or for survival, Le Yuxin needed to quickly transition from a powerless homebody to a ruthless soldier, transforming Qian Yuliu's abilities into his own.
The best way to evolve was through combat.
However, finding suitable opponents was tricky. Fighting someone weaker than Qian Yuliu risked exposing his lack of real strength if he lost. Fighting someone stronger was also a dilemma; Le Yuxin only knew Kui Zhao and Lan Yan were stronger than him, and if they discovered Qian Yuliu's shaky foundation and lack of skill, wouldn't that be belittling?
Mu Feihong's challenge at this time was simply a perfect Godsend opportunity.
In terms of combat power, Mu Feihong is a master of the Thousand Feather Style, losing to him would not be shameful for Le Yuxin;
In terms of danger, the Statistical Department agents are behind him to ensure safety, even if Mu Feihong beats Le Yuxin severely, someone will intervene promptly.
In such a battle where the outcome has no impact, naturally, Le Yuxin should seize the opportunity!
Le Yuxin steps forward three steps, maintaining a two-meter distance from Mu Feihong, crosses his hands in a claw-like gesture, ready for battle: "Please advise."
Mu Feihong holds the ends of the rope in both hands, seemingly unguarded, reaching out to Le Yuxin: "Come."
At this moment, the sunlight is just right, a gentle breeze rustling the forest, Le Yuxin feels a movement in his heart, and perceives that the light in his hand becomes an extension of his limbs, surrounding light reduces the gravity on his body, the world becomes clearer, he feels as if he has turned into light.
The area reached by light becomes his domain!
Meanwhile, he clearly feels Mu Feihong also transforms into a giant ball of light. Both being light, they repel each other, the surrounding light dividing into two 'armies', attaching to them as they face off!
The battle of Awakeners is the competition of light manipulation techniques!
People outside can only see the light twisting around Mu Feihong and Thousand Feather Style's forms, blurring them, then suddenly a burst of light explodes, twisting into a tiger's mouth, emitting waves of sound!
The cadets and agents, familiar with various combat technique characteristics, immediately recognize the origin of the move:
Biting Battle Technique Startup Form·Desolate Bite!
The mysteries of the Biting Battle Technique lie in the word 'bite', where Desolate Bite serves as the foundation for all techniques; many Martial Artists of the Eight Field Stream don't need to compare anything else, by just observing Desolate Bite they can discern the strength of both sides.
Yet most Eight Field Martial Artists can only produce 'tooth light', twisting light into teeth, but light transforming into a tiger's mouth, 'tiger light', shows martial arts proficiency surpassing ninety percent of peers—'tiger light' indicates light guided by Desolate Bite reaches a level of accumulation and overflow, once erupted, it can cleave mountains and stones!
However, Le Yuxin was already astounded spiritually by the Desolate Bite he executed, he suddenly felt that becoming a Substitute in the Thousand Feather Style isn't just a bad thing—this experience of controlling the great power of nature brings him joy comparable to piloting a mecha!
"Good."
Mu Feihong lightly commented, facing Le Yuxin's tiger light Desolate Bite fearlessly, his hands holding the rope suddenly drawing a circle, light converged into a ring, it broke through Le Yuxin's Desolate Bite, the rope also looped around Le Yuxin's right hand!
Tiger Light Shattering, Light Ring Lock!
Biting Battle Technique·Universe Chant!
Le Yuxin was slightly stunned, Universe Chant is one of the follow-up moves of Desolate Bite, the move he intended to use was executed first by the enemy, and it perfectly countered his technique. It's like squatting down when relief comes but the pants are not yet off—no way to proceed!
Though Le Yuxin doesn't know what to do, his body acts on its own accord. The instant his right hand is locked, almost by subconscious habit, Le Yuxin simultaneously uses a left elbow strike and right knee strike, while pulling his locked right hand, dragging Mu Feihong closer!
Light gathers, sounds pierce through the air, elbow and knee like fangs, breath like a piercing attack!
Biting Battle Technique·Vast Spit!
The technique of the Eight Field Stream Martial Artists, when any part is bound, one can directly use this move to reverse the situation, channeling body strength through the hardest parts onto the nearby enemy, those hit are either dead or severely injured!
However fierce Le Yuxin comes, Mu Feihong is even more staunch!
Same stance, same elbow and knee strike, the two directly clash, light explodes like a waterfall pouring!
Seeing this scene, many around with insufficient spiritual power feel their vision is somewhat blurred! Trying to observe overly twisted light, those with inadequate spiritual power feel nauseous and want to vomit!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal symphony continuously erupts with the light explosion, the more Le Yuxin fights, the more astonished he becomes—Mu Feihong uses all the moves he knows, yet when he executes them, they are perfectly countered and overpowered by Mu Feihong.
Even though both are using the same battle technique, utilizing similar amounts of light, Mu Feihong can still hold his advantage over Le Yuxin!
Le Yuxin can only sense slight differences in detail, but it's precisely these subtle differences that can amass a crushing advantage!
'Combat technique mastery is at least a level higher than mine…could it be intermediate?' Le Yuxin's mind races, deploying all his skills and entangles with Mu Feihong!
Though he can't win, it doesn't mean Mu Feihong can easily defeat him. They know each other thoroughly, plus Le Yuxin is young and strong, Mu Feihong though spiritually superior, still suffers unavoidable physical decline from nearing fifty, so while Le Yuxin is losing, he can still fight back!
This pressure is just right, Le Yuxin can feel countless pieces of knowledge about the Biting Battle Technique merging in his mind, he's about to completely absorb the legacy of the Thousand Feather Style!
Suddenly, as they confront each other again using 'Vast Spit', Mu Feihong suddenly cups his hands, not only neutralizing Le Yuxin's elbow strike but also producing a strong light shock that turns Le Yuxin forty-five degrees, while Mu Feihong subsequently moves behind Le Yuxin!
Biting Battle Technique·Yellow Sigh!
Yet Yellow Sigh is supposed to be a burst skill utilizing gathered light energy for unidirectional explosions, specifically targeting heavy targets, used for breaking doors and walls, generally requiring three to four breaths to execute, hardly used in close combat.
But Mu Feihong executed an incomplete Yellow Sigh directly during 'Vast Spit'…no, he first used Universe Chant's technique to neutralize the elbow strike, then smoothly used Yellow Sigh to produce a light shock, causing me minor harm but forcing position displacement!
Le Yuxin instantly understood Mu Feihong's technique, yet the situation had already sharply turned against him—Mu Feihong moves behind Le Yuxin, pulls the rope to lock Le Yuxin's right hand behind his left shoulder, then locks Le Yuxin's left hand to his lower back!
The intended captor Le Yuxin is unexpectedly captured by the target Mu Feihong!